BIRCHWOOD LANE ADVISORY, LLC

Erica founded Birchwood Lane in response to requests from clients and advisors seeking independent guidance on the practical, non-legal aspects of trust management, family office governance, and fiduciary risk oversight. 

After the estate plan is in place, the family office is established, or the private trust company is formed, added guidance is often needed to implement best practices and oversee operations. Additionally, family offices increasingly seek independent oversight of private trust company boards and committees to ensure sound risk management. 

In addition to bespoke trustee and family office consulting, Birchwood Lane offers expert fiduciary services to advisors navigating fiduciary disputes.  

Birchwood Lane does not manage or sell investments, does not sell insurance, and does not provide tax or legal advice.

With over 20 years in the business of fiduciary services and wealth management, working with many of the world's most sophisticated families, Erica is uniquely situated to help trustees, families, family offices, trust companies, and their advisors implement best practices, refine governance, and execute on their fiduciary obligations.

EXPERIENCE         

     BNY Mellon Wealth Management (June 2022 to June 2025)  

• Managing Director, Chief Fiduciary Officer and Head of Wealth Planning
• Business Head, Wealth Management Select Trust Administration Business  

     The Northern Trust Company (November 2010 to May 2022) 

• Chief Fiduciary Officer, Northern Trust Global Family & Private Investment Office Services (“GFO”) (2021-2022), Member of GFO Leadership Team 
• Chief Fiduciary Officer, The Northern Trust Company of Delaware (2021-2022)) 
• Assistant General Counsel, Senior Legal Counsel, Trust Counsel Legal Team (2015-2021) 
• Senior Vice President and Senior Trust Advisor, Northern Trust Wealth Management - Wealth Advisory Services (2010-2015) 

     Reed Smith LLP (2004 to 2010; combined with Sachnoff & Weaver, Ltd. in 2007); 

     Lord Bissell & Brook LLP 

• Trust and estate attorney focused on estate planning for family business owners, complex trust and estate administration, and dispute resolution 

EDUCATION

     The George Washington University, Washington, DC - J.D. with honor 2002 

• Dean’s Fellow (2001-2002) 
• The George Washington University Moot Court Board 

     Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI - B.A. with high honor 1996 

• Political Theory & Constitutional Democracy, minor in biology, State of Michigan secondary education certification 
• Dean’s List (every semester), Phi Kappa Phi, Mortar Board National Senior Honors 

AFFILIATIONS  

• Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), a peer-elected community of trust and estate attorneys and law professors selected for their professionalism and contributions to the legal profession.  ACTEC Fellows are committed to maintaining excellence in the trust and estate legal field and to continually improving the practice of trust and estate law.   
• Member, Bar of the Illinois Supreme Court and of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (admitted 2002) 
• Chicago Estate Planning Council (2004 to present):  Executive Committee (2025-2030 term), Board of Directors (2022-present), Committee Chair (2017-2021) 
• Member, Illinois Bar Association 

PUBLICATIONS AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS 

• Contact me for a full list of publications and speaking engagements